Man Takes Woman Last Name

Gen 2:24 reads 'Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.' As this sounds like a command why and when did things change so that it is the woman who gives up all (even her name) to the man?

I've recently married a wonderful man who respects me and loves me dearly. I'm expecting our firstborn in a few days time and we are so excited. I kept my surname, not only because it suits my first name, but because that is what feels fair to me and he respects that, but the problem comes now with us having to register our baby's name. I pray that we'll find a solution.

Jack sorry but you said weren't entirely correct. Yes,there are two ways Latino and Hispanic people do surnames, one which you described is correct and that is for example Lydia Hernandez Trejo marries Juan Gonzalez Smith...Hey I'm imagining here... She can be Lydia Hernandez de Gonzalez or She can be Lydia Gonzalez Hernandez... The Hernandez is her father's last name and the Trejo is her mother's last name. Then her children would be Gonzalez Hernandez baring the surnames of both grandfathers.

When Adam spoke the words recorded in Gen 2:23 and 24 Adam didn't have a mother and father to leave so he was speaking of what was to be in the future, however, this was before they both sinned. God changed things then by allowing pain in childbirth, weeds to grow etc. Perfection had been spoiled through sin.

Jesus shows what this verse meant. Yet it also reveals the mystery of Christ who was one Spirit, leaving His family and becoming one flesh with His bride--He became man. When man sinned, God made man the head--responsible; and placed Eve in submission. Gen 3:16-19. This reveals the blessing of having a divine Husband who is responsible! Read carefully Numbers 30. Now place us as the woman and Christ as the man. See what a blessing He is to us. He says, It shall not stand so many times for us.

Rachel could you explain your answer please?Regarding all other answers I'm still puzzled as to when and why things changed as it seems clear that it is men who are supposed to leave parents and any other ties behind to start a new life with their wife. In reality it is mainly women who give up much for a man, (not just name) but career prospects, they move area to be where the man needs to be etc. Practical I know but it sounds opposite to what Genesis says.

Biblical responsility has nothing to do with it. It's simply Anglo-American social convention.

On the continent of Europe, especially France and Germany, the husband adds his wife's paternal surname to his own. Hence Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin (whence the name for Houdini), or the composer Felix Mendelssohn who after marriage used the style Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

The Bible also says husbands and wives are to be submissive to one another. When that passage says a man is to leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife, it is saying the husband becomes responsible to her, their marriage and family. From what I understand, a woman taking her husband's name is a tradition derived from this Biblical responsibility.

Most men have concluded that while a woman decides to give up everything - at least she aquires a new name. However, our husbands would like us to wear "the" name quite well. Our dads wanted the same thing.Angry people, either from jealousy or justified anger, will hurt him & his children & us, through his own name.

Because of this knowledge, it is nice to have a kind & nurturing man. It is best to remember that we wear the name of Jesus, name above all names.

Concluded (I hope): The Anglo-American social custom of the wife taking the husband's surname simply shows that she enters his family. It's not followed in all places. In Iceland, for example, there are NO surnames. Males' surnames are Father'sname+ssohn, and females are Fathers'namd+datter, which they keep throughout their lives even after marriage.

Continued: In Spain and other countries, a man will add his wife's surname to his own after marriage: Sr. Juan Mendez Garcia. His will will be called Sra. Maria Garcia de Mendez. The children will bear both surnames (used only on the most formal occasions: Pablo Mendez y Garcia, Luisa Mendez y Garcia.

If you look at typical marriage examples in the Bible (try Genesis 25), you will see that it was VERY seldom the man left his family. Rather the wife was brought to him, and they remained under the jurisdiction of the head of the clan--extended family: what the Romans called the PATERFAMILIAS.